Demand for two stroke three wheelers high despite 2008 ban
Anjana Samarasinghe
TRI-SHAWS: Local three-wheeler manufacturers and distributors say two
stroke three wheeler sales have not gone down despite the Government
deciding to ban two stroke three wheelers from 2008.
David Pieris Motor Company Limited (DPMC) the franchised distributor
in Sri Lanka for Bajaj three-wheelers said the demand for two stroke
three wheelers has not declined despite the Government’s decision to ban
import of two stroke three wheelers. A couple of years back the DPMC
introduced four stroke three wheelers to Sri Lanka.
A company spokesman told Daily News that their four stroke market is
also growing.
The company also said there is a technical possibility of converting
two stroke engines to a four stroke engine.
Chairman/ Chief Executive Director of Alba Group of Companies M.Y.M.
Nassar told Daily News there is no decline in demand for the two stroke
three wheelers at the moment.
“It is a good move that the government has taken since the world is
moving towards four stroke engines,” Nassar said.
They are also keen on converting to four stroke three wheelers. “But
the Government needs to provide financial assistance for us.”
“Converting to four stroke is a huge investment and we need a huge
backup from the Government,” Nassar said.
Specialised mechanics are needed for repairing four stroke three
wheelers and there is a dearth of mechanics who are specialised in this
sector.
The Government also needs to focus on training these mechanics too,
he said.
Government also needs to consider the three-wheeler drivers who have
made it their main source of income, he said.
Meanwhile Minister of Environment Patali Champika Ranawaka told
Parliament recently as a relief measure the Ministry will consider the
possibility of granting concessionary credit facilities for two stroke
three wheeler owners to convert their three wheelers into four stroke.
According to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles (RMV) last month 4,294
petrol three wheelers and 41 diesel three wheelers were registered at
the RMV. Most of them are two stroke.
Normally there are over 4,000 three-wheeler registrations per month
at the RMV and there was no significant decline in three-wheeler
registrations after the Government’s decision, an official of the RMV
said.
There are 318,000 three-wheelers in Sri Lanka and most of them are
two stroke. The Government decided to ban the import of two stroke
three-wheelers with effect from 2008 to minimise air pollution. Four
stroke three-wheelers are recommended by the Government instead.
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